Steamer



G. l. SIPE STEAMER May 7, 1940.

Filed Jan. 26, 1938 N m e m m m N IHIUNI Qi 3 w m IDQ. $m j NM mm e S ai@Q mu @i .n.2 0 n@ .oni n @NQ O e @S w\ G NN ww\ Y .m5 MQ \w\ NTT m MN mPatented May 7, 1940 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAMER George I.Sipe, Lancaster, Pa.

Application January 26, 1938, Serial No. 187,072

6 Claims.

The invention relates to a steamer for use in connection with anapparatus for producing bread-crumbs, more particularly sterile,non-deteriorating type bread-crumbs, but it is to be '5 understood thatthe steamer is for use in any connection for which it may be foundapplicable. The invention aims to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a steamer for steaming shredded material while the latter isbeing conveyed.

The invention furtheraims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter setforth, a steamer including superposed communicating compartments forconveying therethrough shredded material and simultaneously with theconveying of material through the upper compartment subjecting it to asteaming action by the supplying of steam into the said uppercompartment.

The invention further aims to provide, in a manner hereinafter setforth, a steamer including a pair of superposed compartments, means forconveying shredded material in opposite directions through saidcompartments and a steam supply pipe opening into the upper compartmentfor steaming the shredded material as itis conveyed through said uppercompartment.

The invention further yaims to provide, in a manner as hereinafter setforth, a steamer for the purpose referred to, which is comparativelysim- 30, ple in construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact,thoroughly efficient in its use, readily assembled and comparativelyinexpensive to manufacture. f

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear,the invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more fully described and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the 40invention, but it is to be understood that changes,

variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within theclaims hereunto appended.

In the drawing Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a steamer inaccordance with this invention; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, broken away, taken on line2-2 of Figure 1.

The steamer includes an upper housing H1 formed of an open top body partH8, of substantially U-form in vertical section having a rounded bottomH9 and oppositely disposed outwardly extending side and end flanges atits top. A closure |2| is provided for the open top of body part H8. Theclosure |2| is of arcuate contour in transverse section and formed withoppositely disposed outwardly extending side and end flanges/|22 whichseat on the flanges |20. The flanges |20 are secured to the flanges |22by the holdfast devices |23. The housing H1 provides the steamer with anupper chamber |24 constituting a steaming chamber for the material.Within the upper chamber |24 is arranged an upper conveyor |25. Theclosure |2| at one end is formed with an opening |26 intowhich extends achute, not shown, for supplying the material to be steamed to one end ofthe chamber |24. The bottom H9 at one end is formed with an opening |21for a purpose to be referred to. Extending lengthwise of chamber |24 andabove the conveyor |25 is a perforated steam supply pipe |23 forsteaming the material passing through the chamber |24. One end of pipe|23 is formed with an angularly disposed extension |29 which passesthrough the closure |2| and leads to a source of steam supply not shown.The side walls of body part HB, indicated at |30 are formed with alignedopenings 3| and annular bosses |32 on their outer faces registering withthe openings |3|. The shaft |33 of the conveyor |25 s mounted in theopenings |3| and bosses |32`and extends from one of the Walls |30.

The steamer includes a lower housing |34 formed of an open top body part|35 of substantially U-form in vertical section having a rounded bottom|36, front and rear walls |31 and side walls |38. The walls |31, |38 areflared outwardly at their upper portions, as at |39. The housing l1seats on and is anchored to the flared portions of housing |34 by theholdfast means |40 for the purpose of closing the top of housing |34.The housing ||1 in connection with the housing |34 forms a closed toplower chamber |4| for a lower spiral conveyor |42. The opening |21functions as an outlet for the steamed material from the chamber |24 andthe intake of chamber |4| for the steamed material. Thek bottom |35 ofpart |35, of housing |34 at one endy thereof is formed with an opening|43 which constitutes an outlet for the steamed material from thechamber |4|. The walls |38 of body part |35 are formed with alignedopenings |44 and annular bosses |45 on their outer faces registeringwith the openings |44. The shaft |46 of the conveyor |42 is mounted inthe openings |44 and bosses |45 and extends from one of the walls |38and aligns with the extended portion of shaft |33. The opening |26 ofthe steamer is located at that end thereof opposite the end in which theopening |21 is located and aligns with the opening |43. The conveyors|25, |42 revolve in opposite directions. The direction of revolution ofconveyor |25 is such as to cause it to convey the material in chamber|24 in a direction from opening |26 to opening |21. The direction ofrevolution of conveyor |42 is such as to cause it to convey the materialin a direction from opening |21 to opening |43 for the purpose ofdischarging the material acted upon from the chamber |4|. The steamer isto be mounted on suitable supports. The shafts |33, |46 are operated inunison in opposite directions by any suitable means.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a material steamer formedwith upper and lower closed communicating chambers substantially ofU-form, a material intake for said upper chamber, a material outlet forsaid lower chamber, means for conveying material in opposite directionsthrough said chambers, and means for supplying steam to and lengthwiseof the upper chamber above the conveying means in said upper chamber.

` 2. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a material steamerformed with upper and lower superimposed communicating chambers, amaterial intake for said upper chamber, a material outlet for said lowerchamber, said intake and outlet being arranged respectively in the topand bottom of said upper and lower chambers, means arranged in each ofsaid chambers for conveying material in opposite directions through saidchambers, and means within the upper chamber above the conveying meansvin said upper chamber for supplying steam to and lengthwise of the upperchamber, said intake and outlet being arranged in vertical alignment andin proximity to an end of said chambers.

3. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a material steamercomprising a pair of superimposed trough-shaped sections forming upperand lower chambers for the passage of material being steamed, the bottomof the upper section forming the bottom of the upper chamber and top ofthe lower chamber, the bottom of the lower section being formed with anoutlet for the lower chamber, the bottom of the upper section Ibeingformed with an opening for establishing communication between saidchambers, said opening constituting an outlet for the upper chamber andan intake for the lower chamber, a closure for the upper chamber securedto the upper section and being formed with an intake for the upperchamber, means for supplying steam lengthwise of the upper chamber, andmeans for conveying the material in opposite directions through saidchambers.

4. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a

material steamer comprising a pair of superimposed trough-shapedsections forming upper and lower chambers for the passage of materialbeing steamed, the bottom of the upper section forming the bottom of theupper chamber and top of the lower chamber, the bottom of the lowersection being formed with an outlet for the lower chamber, the bottom ofthe upper section being formed with an opening for establishingcommunication between said chambers, said opening constituting an outletfor the upper chamber and an intake for the lower chamber, a closure forthe upper chamber secured to the upper section and being formed with anintake for the upper chamber, means for supplying steam lengthwise ofthe upper chamber, and a pair of oppositely revoluble materialconveyors, each arranged in a chamber and journaled in the ends of asection.

5. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a material steamer formedwith upper and lower horizontally disposed superposed communicatingchambers, a material intake for said upper chamber, a material outletfor said lower chamber, means in each of said chambers for conveyingmaterial in opposite directions through said chambers, and a tubularperforated element dis,- posed lengthwise of the upper chamberandlocated above the conveying means in the upper chamber for supplyingsteam to the upper chamber.

6. In an apparatus for the purpose set for-th, a material steamercomprising a pair of superimposed trough-shaped sections forming upperand lower chambers for the passage of material being steamed, the bottomof the upper section forming the bottom of the upper chamber and top ofthe lower chamber, the bottom of the lower section being formed with anoutlet for the lower chamber, the bottom of the upper section beingformed with an opening for establishing communication between saidchambers, said opening constituting an outlet for the upper chamberandan intake for the lower chamber, a closure for the upper chamber securedto the upper section and being formed with an intake for the upperchamber, means for supplying steam lengthwise of the upper chamber,means for conveying the material in opposite directions through saidchambers, said sections having rounded bottoms and with the bottom ofthe upper section depending within the upper portion of the lowersection.`

GEORGE I. SIPE.

